FC Cincinnati beats Ottawa Fury FC 3-0 on Saturday afternoon

FC Cincinnati midfielder Emmanuel Ledesma (45) pumps up the crowd in the second half of the USL soccer match between FC Cincinnati and Louisville City FC at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, April 7, 2018. FC Cincinnati fell to Louisville, 1-0.(Photo: Sam Greene)

A second half three-goal flurry, including two in 64 seconds, earned Futbol Club Cincinnati a 3-0 win over Ottawa Fury FC on Saturday afternoon at TD Place Stadium.

The win was FC Cincinnati's first since a 1-0 victory at Indy Eleven on March 31, where Cincinnati will play again Wednesday night. With the win over Ottawa, who's currently ranked last in the United Soccer League Eastern Conference standings, Cincinnati has 11 points from six matches and at full time sat fourth in the conference — the club's highest position since its inaugural 2016 season.

After an unimaginative first half that finished scoreless, Kenney Walker gave FC Cincinnati the lead in the 68th minute when the central midfielder volleyed a shot from 45 yards out into an empty net, catching Ottawa goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau out of position. The finish, which was Walker's second goal in as many matches, will likely be a goal-of-the-season contender this season.

Corben Bone doubled the lead a minute later when he headed in Emmanuel Ledesma's cross from close range. The goal was the first time the club took the lead in a match since March.

Ledesma made it 3-0 in the 76th minute when the Argentinean winger chipped Crépeau from roughly 30 yards out. The goal was Ledesma's first for FC Cincinnati, after joining the club in the offseason from the New York Cosmos.

The only time FC Cincinnati looked as it it might concede came in the 43rd minute when the Fury went on a counter attack, which ended with Cincinnati left back Blake Smith blocking a shot off the goal line.

Cincinnati plays rival Indy Eleven on May 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium in the club's first mid-week match in 2018.

Converting chances

After scoring twice in the second half to draw 2-2 with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC last Saturday night at Nippert Stadium, head coach Alan Koch and his players thought the final 45 minutes of the match were arguably the team's best performance to date. They mentioned that as long as goal-scoring opportunities were being created, they'd be taken advantage of moving forward.

That was the case Saturday in the Canadian capital, where FC Cincinnati spent the second half churning out chances that kept the USL's worst team scavenging to keep the match scoreless.

The visitors had two opportunities to score within the opening minutes of the half, quickly taking control of the match. The score line revealed as much soon after.

Richey earns clean sheet in debut

Evan Newton started the first five FC Cincinnati games this season and had clean sheets in his first two games, but missed the club's sixth game with an injury. Spencer Richey replaced him in the starting lineup, while Mark Village was on the bench as an unused substitute.

Richey's 90 minutes were fairly quiet, with the Fury only forcing three shots on target.

Recovering on a quick turnaround

The break between now and Wednesday night's match at the Eleven is the quickest turnaround following a game so far this season for Cincinnati. As a result, Koch might rotate his lineup or substitutes in that match.

FC Cincinnati hosts Atlanta United 2 on May 5 at Nippert Stadium in the next home match.